On 13 July 2025, Dp World signed a thirty-year agreement with Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports to develop and manage the port of Tartus. The deal, signed in the Syrian capital in the presence of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, includes a total investment of 800 million US dollars for the modernisation of the facility and its relaunch as a strategic hub in trade flows between southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Tartus, located along the Syrian Mediterranean coast, is the country’s second most important port and offers a strategic gateway to trade routes crossing the Bosphorus and the Suez Canal. After years of underutilisation and lack of investment due to the country’s internal conflict, the port is now poised for a radical transformation that could significantly impact the geopolitical and logistics landscape of the entire region.
The agreement follows a build-operate-transfer model, under which Dp World will retain full ownership of the investment throughout the concession period. The project includes the construction of new infrastructure, the introduction of advanced cargo handling technologies, and the implementation of digital systems for the efficient management of container and general cargo terminals.
In addition to port infrastructure upgrades, Dp World has announced plans to explore further projects in Syria, including the establishment of free zones, inland logistics hubs and transit corridors. These initiatives aim not only to increase cargo volumes but also to support economic diversification and facilitate trade during a pivotal phase of national reconstruction.
“This agreement reflects our long-term commitment to facilitating global trade and strengthening the resilience of supply chains,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and CEO of Dp World Group. “Tartus has the potential to become a vital trade gateway and we are ready to contribute to regional connectivity and economic growth. We believe in the power of trade as a driver of stability and prosperity for Syria and the wider region.”
Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, chairman of the Syrian Port Authority, echoed this sentiment: “This agreement marks a decisive step for the port of Tartus and for our entire maritime sector. Working with Dp World will enable us to modernise our commercial infrastructure, rebuild strategic routes and revitalise the economy, offering new opportunities for Syrian citizens. We share the goal of transforming Tartus into a strategic gateway to regional and international markets.”
Dp World’s entry into the Syrian port could alter the balance and flow of maritime freight transport in the eastern Mediterranean, a region currently experiencing increased concentration in container ports, with terminals such as Pireaus in Greece and Ambarli in Turkey expanding their market share. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index for the region exceeded 0.1 in 2013–2014, confirming the trend towards consolidation.
Before the Syrian civil war, in 2009, Tartus port handled 685,299 TEUs, a figure that plummeted due to the conflict and subsequent international sanctions, falling to 243,348 TEUs in 2020. The development planned by Dp World is expected to push throughput beyond its previous peak, as western sanctions have now been lifted and the upgraded container terminal will be able to accommodate larger vessels.
Beyond international competition, such as that from Pireaus in the eastern Mediterranean and TangerMed in the western part, Tartus will also face domestic rivalry from the port of Latakia, which recently signed a 260 million dollar agreement with Cma Cgm to develop its container terminal.
